Flower: No problem with KP and Swann, but players should wait to release autobiographies

Andy Flower is confident Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann remain friends - but he would prefer England's cricketers to wait until after their playing days to publish critiques of their team-mates.

Swann's autobiography, serialised in the national press, contained a series of personal opinions about his fellow internationals - including his contention that Pietersen was a bad choice to captain England in 2008 and 2009.

Coach Flower has been reassured by Pietersen's calm reaction, but has nonetheless made it clear he believes autobiographies by current players are a bad idea.

Crushed: Swann and KP's rift was put on the back burner as England lost to India

Pietersen and Swann's body language was scrutinised by paid observers during England's long preparation for what turned out yesterday to be a crushing 126-run defeat in the first of five one-day international matches against India.

As Flower put that setback into context, and backed his players to make a telling response in Delhi in Monday's second match, he praised 31-year-old Pietersen in particular for his 'mature handling' of the situation.

But he also spelled out his antipathy to the publication of Swann's book.Asked whether he believes players should have to wait until after their careers are over to air such revelations in print, he said: 'That's my personal opinion, yes.

'I personally don't think that it's a good idea for current players to be talking about their fellow players.

'The written word does come across very, very differently - when you can't judge a person's tone - and particularly with Swann's words, that is an accurate and important point.'

In a spin: Swann's autobiography has caused much consternation

Even so, despite Swann's condemnation of Pietersen's short tenure as captain - which included a 5-0 ODI series defeat in India in 2008 - Flower insists England's renowned team spirit has not been damaged.

'It's all been handled in-house - without many problems,' he said. 'Pietersen and Swann get on well, and I think Pietersen has handled it very maturely.'

Just as pertinent is whether Pietersen, rested for England's 3-0 NatWest Series victory at home to India last month but straight back in the team despite much competition for batting places yesterday, can at last make his presence felt again in ODIs.

Pietersen has rediscovered his best form in Tests and Twenty20s over the past 18 months, yet has mustered only two 50s in his last 31 ODI innings - stretching back to his seventh century against India in Cuttack three years ago.

England had to drop Ian Bell to accommodate Pietersen and rising star Jonny Bairstow at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, and Flower said of the mercurial batsman: 'He is actually in very good form.

Plenty to ponder: Flower's side were hammered in the ODI opener

'His form in other formats during the last English summer was outstanding.He should be able to get runs out here, and I expect him to.'

Flower retains faith too in England's prospects of recovering their composure in time to turn the series around.

'This group of England cricketers has shown they are of strong character, and I expect us to bounce back,' he said.

'We were outplayed by the Indians on this occasion. They out-fielded us - something that doesn't often happen to us - and we didn't deserve to win the game.

'But one down in a five-match series, we're going to look to do something about that in Delhi.'

England well knew what to expect in India, but - despite 10 days of acclimatisation and two warm-up matches - were unable to deal with it as home captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the game away from them with some explosive hitting in a total of 300 for seven.

'We always knew what the challenge was, coming to India, to win out here - and last night was a good example of the sort of cricket that is going to be played out here,' Flower added.

Game over: Dernbach was the final wicket to fall

'It's tough; it's different, to English conditions, obviously - and we will have to adapt better to it. They played well in those last 15 overs, there's no doubt about that.

'Dhoni is a very dangerous player, a strong hitter of the ball, and he'd got himself in by that stage.

'They'd set up their innings for exactly that, and then he played superbly. In this instance, I think we have to give him a lot of credit for that.

'Remember, these guys are world champions - and they're good in their own country.'

England did not help themselves either at times.

'Our problem was that we weren't able to manipulate the spinners as well as they did in the middle overs - a catalyst for a number of wickets in that period,' Flower said.

'There were various aspects of the game that were good - (Alastair) Cook played nicely, again went at a run-a-ball.

'He is overcoming all challenges that are put in front of him, and that was a good example last night.